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Plant Health Public Meeting Notices

The Ohio Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing for the purpose of accepting testimony on the proposed rules in Chapter 901:5-30 of the Ohio Administrative Code. The rules contained in this chapter establish a list of invasive plants in the state of Ohio. Invasive plants are plant species that are not native to Ohio whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health as determined by scientific studies. Invasive plants do not include cultivated plants grown as food or livestock feed in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices, including all plants authorized by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Am. Sub S.B. 192 of the 130th General Assembly granted the Ohio Department of Agriculture (Department) the exclusive authority to regulate invasive plant species including identification of species and establishment of prohibited activities, and authorizes the Department to adopt rules for that purpose.

After nearly two years of stakeholder outreach, the rules proposed establish a list of invasive plants for sale in the state of Ohio is prohibited. Further, the rules establish an Ohio Invasive Plant Advisory Committee which will provide advice to the Director on matters regarding invasive plants, including but not limited to the identification of invasive plants and the establishment of prohibited activities regarding those species. In order to allow businesses which may have invested time and resources into growing some of these plants, the Department has built in a grace period for the prohibition to take effect. This will allow these businesses time to recoup costs that were already invested and to develop alternative plants to market as replacements.

The hearing will be held on: November 30, 2017 at 9:00 A.M. Ohio Department of Agriculture Bromfield Administration Building Hearing Room 129 (Seminar “A”) 8995 East Main Street Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068-3399.

The hearing will be conducted in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Revised Code. Any person affected by the no change rule package may appear and be heard in person, by his attorney, or both, may present his position, arguments, or contentions, orally or in writing, offer and examine witnesses, and present evidence tending to show that the no change rule package, if adopted or effectuated, will be unreasonable or unlawful.

More information on the rule package, including a business impact analysis and copies of the rules, can be found at http://www.agri.ohio.gov/proposedrules/proposedrules.aspx or by visiting the Register of Ohio at www.registerofohio.state.oh.us.

Any person who wishes to present his position, arguments, or contentions in writing, other than at the public hearing, may do so by either mailing his or her written comments to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, c/o Legal Section, 8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068; by email at ecomments@agri.ohio.gov, or by transmitting by facsimile at (614) 995-4585. Written comments sent by mail shall be postmarked no later than the day of the hearing. Written comments transmitted by facsimile shall be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the hearing.